England powerlifter Swan wins first gold in Glasgow

England's Mark Swan won the first gold medal of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a dramatic victory by two decimal points in the lightweight powerlifting competition.

The 25-year-old completed a lift of 222kg - more than three times his body weight - to finish tied with Nigeria's Roland Ezuruike on 153.9 points going into the final round.

Both athletes failed with their final lifts, but Swan took gold based on a coefficient format related to the respective athletes' body weight.

The Englishman, from Seaham in County Durham, told BBC Sport: "To realise that I'd won, it's hard to believe. I thought I'd maybe got a bronze.

"My coaches said 'no Mark, you've won', but I couldn't believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will.

"To get the first medal, especially gold, for Team England in the very first medal event, it's absolutely huge."

Swan, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, attempted a world record-equalling lift of 232kg in his final attempt but was unsuccessful.

The lightweight category, designated for athletes with a body weight up to and including 72kg, is decided by a formula to rank lifts fairly against the athletes' body weight.

England's Olivia Broome claimed the bronze medal in the women's lightweight category with a points total of 106.6.

The 25-year-old completed a lift of 119kg to secure a place on the podium, adding to the silver medal she took at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Team-mate Matthew Harding won silver in the heavyweight category with a points total of 131.

The former Paralympic swimmer failed in his final attempt to lift 202kg but his successful 199kg lift in the second round was enough to secure the silver.